Score device for base-ball and similar games



' (No Model.)

W. A. BROWNE.

SCORE DEVICE FOR BASE BALL AND SIMILAR GAMES. No. 437,562. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

WITNESSES A TTORNE YS f UNITEDT STATE PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN AUGUSTUS BROWVNE, OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

SCORE DEVICE FOR BASE-BALL AND SlMlLAR GAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,562, dated September so, 1890.

Application filed November 29, 1889. Serial No. 332,045. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be, it known that I, WARREN AUGUSTUS BROWNE, of Hempstead, in the county of Queens and State of New York,have invented a new and Improved Score Device for Base- Ball and Similar Games, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved score device for base-ball and other games, and has for its object to provide a'durable and conveniently-manipulated device, whereby the score as made may be announced to and made to remain in sight of all persons gathered to witness the game; and a further object of the invention is to render the score device so simple that any person of ordinary intelligence mayreadily read the same.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the device enlarged. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the score-blocks folded out. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a block closed. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the gripper employed in connection with the device, and Fig. 6 is a central vertical enlarged section through the base of the device.

In carrying out the invention a tubular socket 10, having an exterior thread at its upper end and a pointed lower extremity 11, is driven into the ground and is adapted to remain there permanently. In order that the interior of the socket may not become filled up with dirt and other matter, a cap 12 is screwed thereon when the body of the device has been removed from the socket.

The body of the device consists of a pole 13, made in one or more sections, preferably three, the said sections being united by any suitable form of coupling 14, the couplings being so fitted to the sections that the outer faces of the couplings and the outer faces of the pole will be flush. The lower end of the first section of the pole is introduced into the socket 10, whereby the pole is held in a perpendicular position. Upon the top of the pole within a suitable support a pulley 15 is journaled,

and upon the pole a metal sleeve 16 is held to slide. Over the pulley 15 a rope 17 is passed, one end of which rope is permanently secured to the upper portion of the sleeve 16, the other end of the rope passing down to the ground;

In connection with the pole and the sleeve a series of score-blocks 18 is employed, which blocks may be rectangular, polygonal,'or of any desired contour, being preferably, however, made in the shape of. a sphere and in two sections a and a. Each section is ordinarily constructed of tin or of sheet metal, pressed or otherwise bent to shape, and the two sections are united at one side by a hinge 19 of any approved construction and connected at the other side through the medium of a spring-latch '20. Each section is pro vided at its top and bottom edge with a semicircular recess, whereby when the sections have been closed together at the said top and bottom portions of each block a circular opening 21 is formed. This opening is made of sufficient diameter to permit the block when placed upon the pole to freely slide thereon.

In the center of the semicircular recess of each section of the block, at top and bottom,

a groove or channel 22 is formed, through which grooves or channels the rope 17 passes, and preferably at the top of the block abowspring 23 is secured to one or both sections,

which spring bears against the pole and retains the block in position thereon in any position in which it may be placed. These blocks are variously colored. Some, for instance, are preferably colored red, others blue, 0

and others are painted white, some being provided with a red band and others with a blue band.

In operation the sleeve 16 is normally at the lower end of the pole. ball being in progress, a'set of red blocks is set aside to indicate the score of one.nine and the blue blocks to indicate the score of the opposed nine, the striped blocks being intended to represent naught when no runs me have been made in an inning. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the nine first at the bat have made one run, being represented in the score by the red blocks, and when this run was made a red A game of baseblock was clamped around the pole above the sleeve and the sleeve elevated by means of the rope 17, whereupon the red block was carried upward to the top of the pole in contact with a suitable cap thereon, and held stationary or in contact with the pole by means of its bow spring 23. The sleeve was then dropped to be ready to carry up a second block. The opposed nine having come to the bat and made no runs, a white block striped with blue was elevated to a contact with the red block formerly raised, thereby indicating that in the first innings one nine represented by the red blocks had made one run and the nine represented by the blue blocks none. In this manner the score is tallied from the beginning to the end of the game, and it is apparent that persons at a distance from the pole may readily see and read the score indicated thereon. If a score-block should be elevated by mistake, it would be necessary that it should be removed. This is accomplished through the medium of a gripper D, (illustrated in detail in Fig. 5,) consisting of one or a number of piecesof spring-wire bent to form a partial base-ring 26, and two circular side pieces or wings 27, integral with or attached to the base, the upper portion of each wing belng preferably curved outward, as illustrated at 28. The sleeve 16 is fitted upon opposite sides with an aperture 29, and into these apertures 29 studs 30, formed upon the inner face of the base-ring26 of the gripper, are introduced. The sleeve is thereupon drawn upward by means of the rope 17 and the Wings of the gripper forced around the block to be removed. After the gripper has sprung to place upon the block the sleeve is permitted to drop downward and carries the misplaced block with it. When the pole is removed after the game, the cap 12 is screwed upon the socket 10.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a score device for base-ball and similar games, the combination, with a pole, of a series of variously-colored sectional scoreblocks capable of surrounding and sliding upon the pole, a sliding sleeve supporting the blocks, and mechanism for raising or lowering the sleeve, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a score device for base-.ball'and simi lar games, the combination, with a pole provided with a pulley at its upper end, a sleeve sliding upon said pole, and a rope attached at one end to the said sleeve and passing over said pulley, of a series of score-blocks held to slide upon the pole above the sleeve and adapted to be elevated by said sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a score device for base-ball and si1nilar games, the combination, with a pole pro: vided with a pulley at its upper end, asleev'e sliding upon said pole, and a rope attached at one end to the said sleeve and passing over said pulley, of a series of variously-colored sectional score-blocks capable of sliding upon the said pole, each score-block being provided with an interior spring adapted for contact with the pole, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a score device for base-ball and similar games, the combination, with a pole pro vided With a pulley at its upper end, asleeve sliding upon said pole, and a rope attached at one end to the said sleeve and passing over said pulley, of a series of score-blocks held to slide upon the pole above the sleeve and be elevated thereby, and a gripper comprising a spring ring-like base and spring-wings attached to the said base, said gripper being adapted for attachment to the sleeve and 0011- structed of a contour essentially corresponding to the contour of the score-blocks, all com bined for operation substantially as shown and described.

5. In a score device for baseball and simi: lar games, the combination, with a socket adaptedto be driven in the ground and capable of receiving a cap, a jointed pole introduced at one end in said socket, a pulley attached to the upper end of the pole, a sleeve sliding upon said pole, and a rope attached to the said sleeve at one end and passing over the said pulley, of a series of variously-colored score-blocks held to slide upon the pole above the sleeve and be elevated thereby, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

WARREN AUGUSTUS BROWNE.

Witnesses:

FRANK 'BRoW'NE, FRED E. GILDERSLEEVE. 

